Samford University has received a $310,000 grant from the Vulcan Materials Company Foundation to establish a center that will support academic programs, research, seminars and other programs in environmental studies.

The grant will set up the Vulcan Materials Center for Environmental Stewardship and Education at Samford.

"Our partnership with Samford University encompasses three areas of strategic importance to Vulcan: education, environmental stewardship and employee involvement," said Vulcan chairman and chief executive officer Don James. "The University's Sciencenter demonstrates a new level of commitment by Samford to greater academic and scientific pursuits. We are pleased to provide our support for Samford's growing environmental science curriculum."

Samford opened a $27 million Sciencenter this fall to house its departments of biology, chemistry and physics.

Vulcan Materials Company—the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates such as crushed sand, stone and gravel—is a leader in responsible environmental stewardship. It has strategic alliances with organizations such as the Wildlife Habitat Council, and has established 27 Certified Wildlife Habitats on its lands with another 13 in progress.

The company—which also produces other construction materials such as hot-mix asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and industrial chemicals—helped fund Samford's master of science in environmental management program in 1993.

"We have been very pleased with Samford's responsible financial and academic growth of the initial grant," said James. "We need people who have a combination of business and environmental management skills. The Samford environmental management programs are preparing students to fill this critical need."

Samford president Thomas E. Corts said the partnership with Vulcan would help Samford develop a leadership position in environmental education. The partnership "supports one of Samford's stated values, ‘to promote awareness of the sanctity and significance of earth and its resources,'" he added.